Q: What are the chances of moving Omar Bolden into a corner spot and Champ (Bailey) to a free safety spot? Do you think that would slow down the air attack from the pass-happy teams?

A: Paul, logically there is some attraction to moving Bailey into a position where he would have the opportunity to create more turnovers. And he would have far more opportunity to create turnovers at free safety, especially in zone coverages when he would be facing the ball, in the middle of the field.

However, the question about that move is always value.

And cornerback, especially one who can lock up a top-shelf receiver, is simply one of the most valuable positions on any NFL roster.

Most personnel executives I know, including Broncos executive vice president of football operations John Elway, would rank quarterback, left tackle and edge rusher as the three most important building-block positions when putting together a roster.

Next in line, however, for most is a big-time cornerback.

And though he’s 34 years old, in his 14th season, there is no question Bailey is still one of the top-tier cornerbacks in the league. His work against the Patriots’ Brandon Lloyd and the Texans’ Andre Johnson this season is proof of that.

After Johnson caught a 60-yard touchdown pass against Tracy Porter early in the Broncos’ 31-25 loss to the Texans, Bailey spent the rest of the day with Johnson. Johnson caught one pass for 12 yards with Bailey in tow, a third-down conversion late in the game that Bailey came within inches of knocking away.

Bailey then held Lloyd to three receptions for 34 yards.

His value to the Broncos defense is still greatest as a cornerback. He can still slice off a major portion of an offense’s game plan because he can take a primary receiver out of the game.

It does mean the ball also doesn’t come his way much at times. To move him to safety when he is still the team’s best cornerback, however, would make the Broncos weaker at one of the most important positions in the formation.

Technically speaking, he could still be matched up on somebody’s primary receiver if needed, if he were a safety. But he would be aligned, on the field, as a cornerback because that receiver would most likely be an outside receiver. So, the Broncos would be playing two other players at safety anyway.

Bailey has said many times he still considers himself a cornerback, both in attitude and athletically. On a potential move to safety, I’ve asked him if he would eventually consider such a move. He said it would be something he would consider if he were playing “into my 16th season or around there.”

Bailey reviews his play every week of every season. There is no tougher critic in regards to his play than he is. He’s basically said if he sees his play slide at cornerback, but believes he could still contribute at safety and still desires to play, that would be the time for a move.

He also added: “It just has to make sense to me. I’m not looking to play safety. So it would have to make sense, if it doesn’t make sense I’m not doing it. I’m not going to do it just to do it, to save money on the cap or something. I’m a realist, though, if I see myself on tape and I think it’s time to make a move, I’ll know it’s time to make a move, I’ll be the first to see it, I’ll be the first to know it. In my mind, though, I might not say it right away, I might wait for somebody to ask.”

It’s rare for any cornerback to play into his 30s, even rarer that one is consistently matched up on some of the league’s elite receivers at age 33 or 34 like Bailey has been for the last two seasons. So, a move to safety now would likely help repair one issue, but a bigger problem on defense would be left behind because Bailey is still the team’s best option, by far, doing what he does right now.

“I always take it year by year,” Bailey said. “I always look at what I did and decide about the next year. To this point I’ve never gotten to the end of the year and felt like I was going to shut it down or anything. I still feel like I’m fast … maybe not as fast as when I was a young guy, but fast.”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Tyreek Hill didn’t know what to do when he started hearing thousands of people in Arrowhead Stadium chanting his name, even as he stood all alone on the frozen turf waiting for the punt.